PORTLAND, Maine — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says New England residents turned in more than 19 tons of unwanted prescription drugs in the second annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
The DEA said Tuesday that 38,190 pounds were collected at 606 collection sites in New England on April 30.
The DEA says 12,243 pounds were collected in Massachusetts, and 11,920 pounds were turned over in Maine. Officials collected 6,787 pounds in Connecticut, 4,020 pounds in New Hampshire, 1,716 pounds in Rhode Island and 1,404 pounds in Vermont.
The drug take-back initiative is organized by the DEA with the aim of disposing of prescription medications in an environmentally sound way while keeping them out of the wrong hands.
The agency says 376,593 pounds of drugs were collected nationwide.